A panel of top transport managers from across the South approved draft plans last month to add more speed cameras to catch drivers breaking the 70mph limit.

Crucially, the road may be widened to six lanes through some of Berkshire's most heavily protected countryside north of Chieveley, to create ‘slow lanes' for lorries, amid police fears that too many accidents are caused by drivers overtaking.

Up to 60,000 vehicles a day use the A34 – the only road between the south coast freight ports and the factories of the Midlands – with lorries and caravans posing a congestion headache.

After the Chieveley underpass is finished next month, there will be no major upgrade of any part of the route until at least 2014, as government policy has changed from road-building to "managing traffic".

The speed cameras could be installed within three years, adding to the 16 already in West Berkshire. Hampshire is also now keen on cameras after an earlier moratorium.

The local stretch of the A34 is the most dangerous along the entire Bicester to Winchester route, with most crashes at Beedon and Chieveley. Better signage and priority for motorists leaving the road is also planned.

As car ownership is to rise by a fifth, the plan aims to improve safety and traffic flow, without damaging the environment or business access.

However, Newbury MP David Rendel wants even more cameras on the road, and has appealed to Parliament to dramatically increase the numbers of fines issued to motorists driving above the limit.

Top 10 deadly sections of A34

1. Beedon Southbound

2. M40 Bicester junction

3. M4 Chieveley junction

4. A420 link

5. B4027 link

6. A423 link

7. B430 link

8. A415 Abingdon link

9. M3 Winchester junction

10. Tot Hill link